The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he received the tragic news of the murder of a number of Nigerian Muslim pilgrims on their way to Kaolak, Senegal, when the buses conveying them came under gun attack in Burkina Faso with deep sorrow.
In a statement that was obtained by Africa Today News, New York on Tuesday the President said the development is unwelcomed.
He expressed his condolences and prayed for the safety of other Nigerians stranded there.
According to the brief communique, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Nigerian Embassy in Burkina Faso, is engaging with the Burkinabe authorities and awaits the outcome of their investigation of the unfortunate incident, and if necessary, to ensure that all culprits are appropriately sanctioned.
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The president assured that the Nigerian Government will make every effort to secure the mortal remains of the deceased and the survivors of the attack.
At a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, the Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya of Nigeria revealed that 16 of its members were shot dead by the Burkinabe soldiers on patrol.
They were reportedly on their way to the home country of their leader, Sheikhul-Islam Ibrahim Niasse, in Senegal when they met their untimely death.
The national secretary of the Islamic group, Sayyidi Yahaya, said the Ansaruddeen members were ‘randomly selected and cold-bloodedly shot to death in a most horrendous display of bestiality’ after being stopped by the Burkinabe soldiers.
Reacting to the incident on Monday, Buhari said he ‘received the tragic news of the murder of a number Nigerian Muslim pilgrims on their way to Kaolak, Senegal, when the buses conveying them came under gun attack in Burkina Faso.’
The President expressed his condolences and prayed for the safety of other Nigerians stranded there.
Buhari added that the Nigerian Government would make every effort to secure the mortal remains of the deceased and the survivors of the attack.